Diversity Surveys

This reflection will link the biases that I discovered during the cultural and diversity surveys, with the observations and interactions I made during several clinical field experiences in Mr. Lewis’s 4th grade mathematics class. The survey results provided biases in the areas of language communication, racial/ethnic considerations, and cultural diversity. Recognizing these biases prior to performing clinical field experiences helped influence my interactions with the students, teachers, and school administrators. Over the course of this reflection, I will provide specific student interactions relevant to each bias and explain how I approached each situation with the biases in mind. Phenix City School District does not allow the use of English Language Learner’s (ELL) primary language during the general classroom instruction. This policy is contrary to the findings of the studies that we discussed in ELL Module Week 2. Knowing this prior to the field experiences, I decided …show more content…
Lewis’s 4th grade classroom consists of 22 students, of which 21 are African-American and one is White. Knowing the demographics of my assigned classroom and the biases that the cultural and diversity surveys pointed out, I tried to increase my knowledge of African-American culture before my first day of observations. A trip to the Center for Civil and All Human Rights in Atlanta helped to gain cultural insight across many different cultures. Exhibits displaying the violence against the Freedom Riders, Breaking Barriers: Sports for Change, the American Civil Rights Movement, the Global Human Rights Movement, and a collection of personal papers from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. provided a deeper understanding of African-American culture for my observations. When working with Mr. Lewis’s students, I tried to provide them with culturally and personally relevant information for their math problems. Giving personalized support helped in maintaining the students' attention throughout the